PHUKET, 23 July 2009: Thai security forces destroyed a motorcycle found about 300m from the venue of the Asean Regional Forum (ARF) as a precaution after authorities could not locate the owner.

First Regional Army Commander Gen Lt Kanit Sapitak said: “We found the motorcycle at about 9am at a no-park area. The area was cordoned off for an hour,” he said.

He said that although no suspicious substances were found, they decided to destroy the motorcycle with a high-pressure water gun as a preventive measure due to the high security alert at the resort complex where over 1,200 delegates are staying.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton joined foreign ministers and high-ranking officials from 26 countries at the regional security meeting a week after the bomb blasts at two American luxury hotels in Jakarta.

The Thai government has deployed about 10,000 soldiers and police officers to provide security at the week-long ARF meeting and related events. — Bernama